Carriers of peace

Our Daily Bread
I have been in several denominations of churches that have a tradition in their worship services to "pass the peace".  The attendees great each other with "Peace" or "Peace be with you".  I like that tradition.  I wish it was that easy to pass the peace among folks!

The devotional had a nice story of how the WWII ships were used as carriers of peace and good will after the war.  They carried coats for needy children in New York City.  How cool is that!  It reminds me of the Toys for Tots campaign by the firemen all over the US.

My question for each of us this holiday season: Are we carriers of peace?  If not, how can we change?

Lord, thank you for your peace that passes all understanding.  Please help us be carriers of your peace!

Psalm Sunday
We are looking at Psalm 74 today.  It is a maskil of Asaph.  I found a good definition of maskil: it is a psalm that teaches you something.  There are about thirteen psalms with this designation.  Very interesting.  Let's take a look at it.  I think it is trying to teach us two things: who God is and how rejecting the ways of God can lead to ruin.  What do you think?  Asaph was a writer of psalms.  He was attributed with several of them.


Psalm 74

A maskil of Asaph.

1 O God, why have you rejected us forever?
    Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember the nation you purchased long ago,
    the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed—
    Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,
    all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4 Your foes roared in the place where you met with us;
    they set up their standards as signs.
5 They behaved like men wielding axes
    to cut through a thicket of trees.
6 They smashed all the carved paneling
    with their axes and hatchets.
7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
    they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
8 They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!”
    They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.
9 We are given no signs from God;
    no prophets are left,
    and none of us knows how long this will be.
10 How long will the enemy mock you, God?
    Will the foe revile your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
    Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
12 But God is my King from long ago;
    he brings salvation on the earth.
13 It was you who split open the sea by your power;
    you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan
    and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
15 It was you who opened up springs and streams;
    you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
    you established the sun and moon.
17 It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
    you made both summer and winter.
18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,
    how foolish people have reviled your name.
19 Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts;
    do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.
20 Have regard for your covenant,
    because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
21 Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace;
    may the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Rise up, O God, and defend your cause;
    remember how fools mock you all day long.
23 Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries,
    the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.


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Trusting God’s faithfulness dispels our fearfulness. - Our Daily Bread web site